26 March 1998 Edition

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NIO accepts liability

Two NIO officials sent to investigate the deaths of livestock on a South Armagh farm saw at first hand the anger of local people at British army behaviour when they visited the area on Wednesday 18 March.

The pair - Derek Woods and Peter Mulholland - were invited to the farm of Henry McIlroy who lost five ewes and 11 lambs on Friday 13 March when a British army helicopter buzzed his South Armagh farm.

Mr McIlroy and a farmer from Louth who also lost livestock during the incident pointed out to the NIO officials that the British army version of the overflight, when a Lynx helicopter flew as far as four miles across the border, was completely untrue.

The aircraft flew as far south as the outskirts of Dundalk and overflew Hackballscross which is four miles across the border.

A spokesperson for the South Armagh Farmers and Residents group told An Phoblacht that the NIO officials accepted liability for the deaths of the livestock when they promised to send Mr McIlroy compensation forms for the deaths of his animals.

``It's not like accepting responsibility, but by offering the forms for compensation they are admitting the helicopter flights played some part in the deaths of the animals,'' said the spokesperson.

As a result of this latest embarassment to the crown forces, a campaign of intimidation has been initiated against the South Armagh group's secretary Toni Carragher. Carragher was stopped and her vehicle was searched last Sunday afternoon and during a committee meeting in her home later that evening a foot patrol of 15 British soldiers and two RUC members arrived outside, writing down vehicle details and taking photographs. The RUC members were confronted by committee members but refused to hand-over the photo film

Toni has made a formal complaint through her solicitor.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland